Chimaev regrets pushing for KO vs. Burns, plans to fight 'smarter'

Khamzat Chimaev faced the most adversity in his UFC career so far against Gilbert Burns, and he wants to prevent a similar scenario from unfolding in the future.

After winning a narrow unanimous decision over Burns in a "Fight of the Year" candidate at UFC 273, Chimaev said he was too aggressive in trying to find the finish.

"I was saying to everybody all week, 'I'm going to knock him out,'" Chimaev said at the post-fight press conference Saturday, according to MMA Fighting. "I tried to knock him out. That was wrong for me from the beginning."

Chimaev started his UFC career only suffering one significant strike across four dominant victories. Burns landed 119 significant strikes over 15 minutes.

The 27-year-old, who will likely enter the top three at welterweight after edging No. 2 Burns, said he would take a more composed approach to his next Octagon outings.

"Next time, I'm going to work a little bit smarter," Chimaev said. "I'm going to smash somebody."

This was also the first time Chimaev, who improved to 11-0 as a pro, went the distance in his career. He said his inability to stop Burns lit a fire under him.

"I have more motivation now because I didn't finish that guy," Chimaev said. "I want to finish everybody."